My neighbour, Matthew, (no.38) has all but abandoned his garden. It’s been years now and the garden has become more and more overgrown, re-wilding. The grass has disappeared. Bracken (Pteridium sp.), Tradescantia fluminensis, Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia) have replaced it. Self-seeded trees are growing, forming an arcade along beside the path. The species of tree,… Continue reading The gate is padlocked
Tag: Invasive plants
Alter Botanischer Garten
From the hotel room I look across at the old botanical garden. I am intrigued by use of the word ‘old’ in the naming. Did it mean it was the abandoned garden like the old pair of shoes, tossed aside, replaced by the new? From my room I have the impression this is the case… Continue reading Alter Botanischer Garten
Freedom to flourish
On the train to Zürich from Bremen I overheard a fellow passenger and tourist say. “I love visiting Switzerland. It is like being in paradise…” Unsaid but implied… because Switzerland is so clean. Paradise in the imagining of this man, is a clean place, empty of the detritus of humans. It is true, Zürich, a… Continue reading Freedom to flourish
International citizens
The much maligned dandelion must come from somewhere… Taraxacum officinale is the most international citizen, the greatest transgressor of borders, (which we know are abstract and arbitrary) and so I seek them in the thick uncut grass on the street verges and in the unkempt front gardens and parks. When I see the bright yellow… Continue reading International citizens
Biodiversity
Field flowers allowed to grow! Oh, for the death of the ‘prefect’ monoculture lawn. Who indoctrinated us to think that a single species grass lawn was a high point of gardening prowess? I could be suspicious of all the companies that benefit from the sale of tools, chemicals etc. that aid the avid lawn lover… Continue reading Biodiversity
Cobbler’s pegs and dandelions
This morning as I walked down through the front garden to fetch the newspaper I spotted a familiar plant— cobbler’s pegs (Bidens pilosa). Although small, the plant had a single flower. Faster than the speed of thought I had stooped and plucked it out. Then I paused— my front garden is full of so called… Continue reading Cobbler’s pegs and dandelions